Community Choir

The Barton Road Community Centre Choir (or the Barton Road Rovers as they are now calling themselves) meet on the second and fourth Friday of each month from 7:00 – 8:30pm.

The group is made up of up to 25-30 people who enjoy getting together and having a good old sing. It’s true – if you arrive feeling a bit tired and run down, after a couple of hours of singing, you’ll leave with a spring in your step.

The choir has started doing public performances and last year performed at the Piccadilly Garden Centre summer fair, The Platform in their local Big Sing which is a gathering of local choirs, and they also perform at events at Barton Road Centre such as the annual Party Pieces evening at Christmas.

The choir sings popular songs but are prepared to step outside their comfort zone and learn the odd unknown number too. Recent songs include “Pretty Woman”, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”, “Stand By Me” and “Flash”. Choir Musical Director is Janine Bebbington who arranges the numbers and accompanies songs on her guitar – mainly using her favourite three chords extensively. Choir is open to anyone – regardless of singing ability – but you need to come ready to sing out and have a laugh.

Did you know that there is medical evidence which proves that singing and being in a choir is really good for you. According to research done by leading vocal coach and singer Helen Astrid, from The Helen Astrid Singing Academy in London, regular exercising of the vocal cords can even prolong life,. “It’s a great way to keep in shape because you are exercising your lungs and heart. Not only that, your body produces ‘feel good’ hormones called endorphins, which rush around your body when you sing. It’s exactly the same when you eat a bar of chocolate. The good news with singing is that you don’t gain any calories!”

Singing even helps you live longer according to the findings of a joint Harvard and Yale study which showed that choral singing increased the life expectancy of the population of New Haven, Connecticut. The report concluded that this was because singing promoted both a healthy heart and an enhanced mental state. Another study at the University of California has reported higher levels of immune system proteins in the saliva of choristers after performing a complex Beethoven masterwork.

So, if you fancy coming along and feeling weller and living longer, be our guests! It’s probably worth trying at least once. And who knows where we might end up? The Royal Albert Hall could be our next venue 🙂 Cost per session is £3 – probably the best £3 you could spend! See you there!